On December 19, 2024, Mexico’s Federal Official Gazette (Diario Oficial de la Federación) published a law reform to improve working conditions known as the “Ley Silla”. This amendment to the Federal Labor Law (Ley Federal del Trabajo) guarantees the right of workers to have access to appropriate seating and/or rest areas during their workday.
This amendment seeks to improve the quality of working life and enhance productivity by preventing health issues such as varicose veins, muscle fatigue, and cardiovascular diseases related to the lack of rest.
Employers are required to provide chairs with backrests. If the nature of the job makes this impractical, designated rest areas must be set up for workers. This provision primarily targets the service, commerce, and industrial sectors where the nature of the work allows it.
Employers cannot require employees to stand for their entire work shift without the possibility of sitting down.
Once the decree was published, it would take 180 days for it to take effect, so the employers have time to adapt their business and to update their internal work regulations to include mandatory rest periods and provisions for the proper use of seating during work. This deadline ends on Tuesday, so the reform will take effect on June 17, 2025.
Employers who fail to comply with these new regulations may face penalties, including fines. According to the new law, employers are subject to a financial penalty of up to $14,000 US if they don’t comply.
If you have employees, you’d better pay attention to this, and if you are an employee, you should know your rights.
This measure aligns Mexico with countries such as Chile, Spain, and Argentina, which have similar regulations regarding working conditions.